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Chapter 18
The Rise of Contemporary Psychology
1. According to the text, three classic schools of psychology continue to remain prominent today.
The three schools are
a. functionalism; neobehaviorism; psychoanalysis.
b. psychoanalysis; Gestalt psychology; neobehaviorism.
c. functionalism; Gestalt psychology; humanistic psychology.
d. psychoanalysis; neobehaviorism; humanistic psychology.
Answer: d. psychoanalysis; neobehaviorism; humanistic psychology.
Rationale:
Psychoanalysis, neobehaviorism, and humanistic psychology are considered classic schools of
psychology that continue to influence contemporary psychological thought and practice. Each
school offers distinct perspectives on understanding human behavior and mental processes.
2. Psychoanalysis was seriously damaged by which historical event?
a. World War I
b. World War II
c. the Great Depression
d. the Korean War
Answer: b. World War II
Rationale:
World War II seriously damaged psychoanalysis as many psychoanalysts fled Europe due to the
rise of Nazi Germany, resulting in a significant disruption to the field's development and
dissemination.
3. In 1988, the American Psychoanalytic Association officially recognized the right of therapists
with a Ph.D. to undergo training in psychoanalysis. This landmark decision was considered to be
a significant blow against the traditional psychoanalytic tenet of
a. institutional psychotherapy.
b. medical orthodoxy.
c. group therapy.
d. lay analysis.
Answer: b. medical orthodoxy.
Rationale:
The American Psychoanalytic Association's decision to allow therapists with a Ph.D. to undergo
psychoanalytic training challenged the traditional psychoanalytic tenet of medical orthodoxy,
which restricted psychoanalytic training to medical doctors (M.D.s).
4. Which major psychological movement has undergone significant growth from the 1960s
through the 1990s?
a. psychoanalysis
b. neobehaviorism
c. humanistic psychology
d. classical behaviorism
Answer: c. humanistic psychology
Rationale:
Humanistic psychology experienced significant growth from the 1960s through the 1990s,
marked by increased interest in topics such as self-actualization, personal growth, and subjective
experiences.
5. The Wisconsin General Test Apparatus, invented by _____, made it possible to objectively
study form discrimination and learning sets in monkeys. This pioneering researcher also
contributed to advances in the study of attachment and social isolation in primates.
a. Albert Bandura
b. Robert Rescorla
c. Martin Seligman
d. Harry F. Harlow
Answer: d. Harry F. Harlow
Rationale:
Harry F. Harlow invented the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus, which revolutionized the study
of primate behavior and cognition. His research on attachment and social isolation in rhesus
monkeys challenged prevailing theories and contributed to our understanding of the importance
of social relationships.
6. _____ advanced a social learning theory that emphasized observational learning.
a. Albert Bandura
b. Robert Rescorla
c. Martin Seligman
d. Harry F. Harlow
Answer: a. Albert Bandura
Rationale:
Albert Bandura is known for advancing social learning theory, which emphasizes the role of
observational learning, modeling, and cognitive processes in behavior acquisition and change.
7. _____ applied laboratory studies of learned helplessness to the clinical study of depression.
a. Albert Bandura
b. Robert Rescorla
c. Martin Seligman
d. Harry F. Harlow
Answer: c. Martin Seligman
Rationale:
Martin Seligman conducted pioneering research on learned helplessness, which he later applied
to the clinical study of depression. His work contributed to our understanding of the
psychological mechanisms underlying depression and paved the way for new therapeutic
interventions.
8. The contemporary school of psychology that stresses the importance of such psychological
processes as memory, attention, reasoning, problem solving, and language is known as
a. phenomenological psychology.
b. transpersonal psychology.
c. epigenetic psychology.
d. cognitive psychology.
Answer: d. cognitive psychology.
Rationale:
Cognitive psychology emphasizes the study of mental processes such as memory, attention,
reasoning, problem-solving, and language. It focuses on understanding how these processes
influence behavior and cognition.
9. In the last century, many notable psychologists have laid the groundwork for the contemporary
study of cognition. Each of the following thinkers influenced the development of cognitive
psychology EXCEPT
a. Frederick C. Bartlett
b. Edward Chace Tolman
c. B. F. Skinner
d. Max Wertheimer
Answer: c. B. F. Skinner
Rationale:
B. F. Skinner's behaviorist perspective focused more on observable behavior and conditioning
processes rather than on internal mental processes, making his influence less direct on the
development of cognitive psychology compared to other psychologists listed.
10. His work was criticized for overemphasizing associationism, artificiality, and reductionism.
Despite these criticisms, __________ conducted the first quantitative study of memory and
inspired generations of future researchers.
a. Frederick C. Bartlett
b. Edward Chace Tolman
c. B. F. Skinner
d. Hermann Ebbinghaus
Answer: d. Hermann Ebbinghaus
Rationale:
Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted pioneering research on memory, including the first quantitative
study of memory using nonsense syllables. While his work faced criticism for its associationist
approach and artificiality, it laid the foundation for future research on memory and cognition.
11. Which of the following statements is most representative of Frederick C. Bartlett's research
on cognition?
a. learning and memory are largely the result of the mechanical laws of association.
b. our memories are reconstructed based on abstract schemas.
c. the phenomenon of cognition can be reduced to biochemical processes.
d. past experience has little impact on our ability to recall information.
Answer: b. our memories are reconstructed based on abstract schemas.
Rationale:
Frederick C. Bartlett's research on cognition focused on how our memories are not verbatim
reproductions of past events but rather reconstructions influenced by abstract schemas or mental
frameworks. This idea emphasized the constructive nature of memory and its reliance on
interpretation rather than mechanical association.
12. _____ conducted some of the first studies on false memory by having subjects attempt to
remember material from unfamiliar stories.
a. Frederick C. Bartlett
b. Edward Chace Tolman
c. B. F. Skinner
d. Hermann Ebbinghaus
Answer: a. Frederick C. Bartlett
Rationale:
Frederick C. Bartlett conducted pioneering research on false memory by studying how
individuals recalled and reconstructed information from unfamiliar stories, demonstrating the
reconstructive nature of memory.
13. This French epistemologist argued that cognition evolved in a series of progressive stages
based on the activation of schemas. In doing so, he revolutionized the study of cognitive
development and became its most visible figure. He is
a. John Mark Baldwin.
b. Kurt Koffka.
c. Lev Semenovich Vygotsky.
d. Jean Piaget.
Answer: d. Jean Piaget.
Rationale:
Jean Piaget revolutionized the study of cognitive development by proposing a stage theory of
cognitive development, emphasizing the role of schemas and progressive stages in children's
cognitive growth.
14. Gestalt interests in thinking and problem solving combined with the purposive behaviorism
of __________ to establish foundations for the emergence of cognitive psychology.
a. Frederick C. Bartlett
b. Edward Chace Tolman
c. B. F. Skinner
d. Hermann Ebbinghaus
Answer: b. Edward Chace Tolman
Rationale:
Edward Chace Tolman's purposive behaviorism, which focused on goal-directed behavior and
cognitive processes, contributed to the foundations of cognitive psychology along with Gestalt
psychology's emphasis on perception and problem-solving.
15. Verbal learning theory refers to
a. cognitive psychology's explanation of speech production.
b. the process by which people use linguistic symbols to adapt to their surroundings.
c. a branch of psychology concerned with the role of associations in memory and forgetting.
d. a term used to describe Jean Piaget's theory of language acquisition.
Answer: c. a branch of psychology concerned with the role of associations in memory and
forgetting.
Rationale:
Verbal learning theory is a branch of psychology concerned with the study of how verbal
information is acquired, stored, and retrieved, focusing on the role of associations in memory and
forgetting.
16. Cognitive psychology formally came into existence
a. in the 1940's.
b. in the late 1950's and early 1960's.
c. in the 1970's
d. in the late 1970's and early 1980's.
Answer: b. in the late 1950's and early 1960's.
Rationale:
Cognitive psychology emerged as a formal discipline in the late 1950s and early 1960s, marked
by the shift towards studying mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving
using experimental methods.
17. Some cognitive psychologists have embraced the computer model and used terms such as
“input,” “output,” and “storage” to describe human functions. These cognitive psychologists best
reflect
a. the influence of behaviorism.
b. the information processing metaphor.
c. the humanistic approach.
d. the contemporary relevance of William James.
Answer: b. the information processing metaphor.
Rationale:
Cognitive psychologists who use terms such as "input," "output," and "storage" to describe
human functions reflect the information processing metaphor, which views the mind as
analogous to a computer in processing information.
18. Unlike the neobehaviorist, the cognitive psychologist views the human participant as
a. a complex, irrational organism with little free will.
b. a dynamic organizer of information.
c. a relatively mindless, passive receiver of information.
d. both a. and c.
Answer: b. a dynamic organizer of information.
Rationale:
Unlike the neobehaviorist perspective, which often views humans as passive responders to
environmental stimuli, cognitive psychologists see humans as active participants who organize
and interpret information dynamically.
19. The term ecological validity refers to
a. the need for people to live in harmony with the Earth.
b. a sophisticated test of accuracy for intelligence scores.
c. the argument that psychology should focus on everyday, real-world problems that impact the
lives of all people.
d. the responsibility that each individual must assume for their personal lifestyle.
Answer: c. the argument that psychology should focus on everyday, real-world problems that
impact the lives of all people.
Rationale:
Ecological validity refers to the extent to which research findings and conclusions apply to realworld settings and situations, emphasizing the importance of studying phenomena that have
practical relevance for people's lives.
20. Hippocrates, Galen, Dorthea Lind Dix, Emil Kraepelin, and Lightner Witmer contributed to
the intellectual traditions of
a. psychology and the law.
b. cognitive psychology.
c. industrial and organizational psychology.
d. clinical psychology.
Answer: d. clinical psychology.
Rationale:
Hippocrates and Galen laid foundational ideas about mental disorders and treatment approaches.
Dorthea Lind Dix advocated for humane treatment of individuals with mental illness. Emil
Kraepelin contributed to classification systems for mental disorders. Lightner Witmer established
the first psychological clinic, marking the beginning of clinical psychology.
21. The Boulder Model recommended that doctoral programs train clinical psychologists to
a. earn Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) degrees.
b. become research-practitioners.
c. emphasize research to the exclusion of therapy.
d. to emphasize cognitive behavioral therapy.
Answer: b. become research-practitioners.
Rationale:
The Boulder Model emphasized training clinical psychologists as scientist-practitioners, capable
of integrating research and clinical practice.
22. The use of systematic desensitization in behavior therapy was pioneered by
a. Aaron T. Beck.
b. Marsha M. Linehan.
c. Jean Piaget.
d. Joseph Wolpe.
Answer: d. Joseph Wolpe.
Rationale:
Joseph Wolpe pioneered systematic desensitization, a behavioral therapy technique used to treat
phobias and anxiety disorders.
23. Cognitive therapy, a second wave of post-WWII psychotherapy was developed by
a. Aaron T. Beck.
b. Marsha M. Linehan.
c. Jean Piaget.
d. Joseph Wolpe.
Answer: a. Aaron T. Beck.
Rationale:
Aaron T. Beck developed cognitive therapy, focusing on identifying and modifying negative
thought patterns to treat psychological disorders.
24. Albert Ellis developed a therapeutic approach called
a. Cognitive Therapy.
b. Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
c. Systematic Desensitization.
d. Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy.
Answer: d. Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy.
Rationale:
Albert Ellis developed Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), which focuses on
challenging and changing irrational beliefs to alleviate emotional distress.
25. The third wave of influential psychotherapies blended Eastern mindfulness with Western
behavioral therapy. This approach is called
a. Cognitive Therapy.
b. Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
c. Systematic Desensitization.
d. Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy.
Answer: b. Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
Rationale:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) blends elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy with
mindfulness practices, focusing on acceptance and change for individuals with complex
emotional difficulties.
26. Based on his experiments with lesions of rat brains, ________ argued that memories are
distributed across the brain. He challenged the work of ________, a neurosurgeon who argued
that individual memories are stored in specific locations in the brain.
a. Roger W. Sperry; Wilder Penfield.
b. Donald O. Hebb; Roger W. Sperry.
c. Wilder Penfield; Karl Lashley.
d. Karl Lashley; Wilder Penfield.
Answer: d. Karl Lashley; Wilder Penfield.
Rationale:
Karl Lashley proposed the theory of equipotentiality, suggesting that memories are distributed
across the brain. Wilder Penfield, a neurosurgeon, supported the idea of specific memory storage
locations in the brain.
27. _______ studied the effects of learning on neural connections and provided a testable
explanation of associationistic learning.
a. Roger W. Sperry
b. Donald O. Hebb
c. Wilder Penfield
d. Karl Lashley
Answer: b. Donald O. Hebb
Rationale:
Donald O. Hebb proposed the Hebbian learning rule, which states that neurons that fire together
wire together, providing a testable explanation for associative learning.
28. _______ investigated epilepsy and did extensive research on humans with surgically split
brains.
a. Roger W. Sperry
b. Donald O. Hebb
c. Wilder Penfield
d. Karl Lashley
Answer: a. Roger W. Sperry
Rationale:
Roger W. Sperry conducted research on split-brain patients, revealing insights into brain
lateralization and functional specialization.
29. _______ was an early cognitive and behavioral neuroscientist who helped launch the use of
the EEG in psychology.
a. Roger W. Sperry
b. Donald O. Hebb
c. Donald B. Lindsley
d. Eric R. Kandel
Answer: c. Donald B. Lindsley
Rationale:
Donald B. Lindsley was a pioneer in the use of electroencephalography (EEG) in psychology
and neuroscience research.
30. _______ led the movement toward reductionistic physiological and genetic research on
memory, particularly by pioneering the use of Aplysia (a giant marine snail) as a model for the
neurobiology of human memory..
a. Roger W. Sperry
b. Donald O. Hebb
c. Donald B. Lindsley
d. Eric R. Kandel
Answer: d. Eric R. Kandel
Rationale:
Eric R. Kandel conducted groundbreaking research on the biological basis of memory, utilizing
the Aplysia sea slug to elucidate fundamental mechanisms underlying learning and memory
formation.
31. Discoveries of the methods by which neurons communicate (i.e., via neurotransmitters) laid
the groundwork for the emergence of ________ as a field of psychology.
a. psychopharmacology.
b. cognitive psychology.
c. psychology and the law.
d. behavior therapy.
Answer: a. psychopharmacology.
Rationale:
Understanding neurotransmission paved the way for psychopharmacology, the study of how
drugs affect mental processes and behavior, particularly through their interactions with
neurotransmitter systems.
32. Otto Loewi was awarded a Nobel Prize for his discovery of the first
a. neuron
b. neurotransmitter
c. glial cell
d. chromosome
Answer: b. neurotransmitter
Rationale:
Otto Loewi received the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the first neurotransmitter,
acetylcholine, and his research on chemical synaptic transmission in the nervous system.
33. _______ is the study of the role of genes in cognition and behavior, and researchers in this
subfield have investigated topics such as intelligence, altruism, jealousy, and psychopathology.
a. Psychopharmacology.
b. Cognitive psychology.
c. Behavioral genetics.
d. Psychoneuroimmunology.
Answer: c. Behavioral genetics.
Rationale:
Behavioral genetics investigates the genetic basis of behavior and cognition, exploring how
genes contribute to various psychological traits and disorders.
34. _______ is the study of the interactions between the brain, behavior, the immune system, and
social and physical environments.
a. Psychopharmacology.
b. Cognitive psychology.
c. Behavioral genetics.
d. Psychoneuroimmunology.
Answer: d. Psychoneuroimmunology.
Rationale:
Psychoneuroimmunology examines the complex interactions between the nervous, endocrine,
and immune systems, as well as environmental factors, in influencing behavior, health, and
disease.
35. _______ is an early social psychologist whose experiences as a political prisoner helped to
inspire his interests and research into prejudice and conformity.
a. Muzafer Sherif.
b. Solomon Asch.
c. Stanley Milgram.
d. Phillip Zimbardo.
Answer: a. Muzafer Sherif.
Rationale:
Muzafer Sherif's experiences as a political prisoner influenced his research on social psychology,
particularly in areas such as intergroup conflict, prejudice, and conformity.
36. _______ is a social psychologist whose best-known research program investigated obedience
and instigated extensive debate about ethical treatment of participants.
a. Muzafer Sherif.
b. Solomon Asch.
c. Stanley Milgram.
d. Phillip Zimbardo.
Answer: c. Stanley Milgram.
Rationale:
Stanley Milgram's research on obedience to authority, particularly his famous obedience
experiments, raised significant ethical concerns and sparked debates about research ethics and
participant welfare.
37. Due to her work in political psychology, crowd psychology, corporate issues, and
management, _________ helped lay the foundations for industrial-organizational psychology.
a. Mary Parker Follett
b. Lillian Gilbreth
c. Marion Almira Bills
d. Elizabeth Loftus
Answer: a. Mary Parker Follett
Rationale:
Mary Parker Follett's extensive work in areas such as political psychology, crowd psychology,
and management contributed significantly to the development of industrial-organizational
psychology, laying foundational principles for understanding human behavior in organizational
settings.
38. _______ is viewed as the “Father of Applied Psychology” for his application of psychology
to a wide variety of business problems such as motivation, argument, persuasion, and
suggestions for improving workers’ efficiency.
a. Walter Dill Scott
b. Frank Gilbreth
c. Franz von Liszt
d. Hugo Münsterberg
Answer: a. Walter Dill Scott
Rationale:
Walter Dill Scott is regarded as the "Father of Applied Psychology" for his pioneering work in
applying psychological principles to various business-related issues, contributing significantly to
the development of applied psychology in organizational settings.
39. ________ is viewed as a key contributor to the emergence of industrial-organizational
psychology, even though this person’s work extended beyond traditional boundaries of
psychology into ergonomics, safety, and efficient workplace design in industrial settings as well
as the home.
a. Mary Parker Follett
b. Lillian Gilbreth
c. Walter Dill Scott
d. Hugo Münsterberg
Answer: b. Lillian Gilbreth
Rationale:
Lillian Gilbreth made significant contributions to industrial-organizational psychology by
applying psychological principles to improve workplace efficiency, safety, and design, as well as
pioneering work in ergonomics, extending the field beyond traditional boundaries.
40. This central figure in early applied psychology helped inspire the extension of applied
psychology into both business arenas and the legal system. He or she was
a. Mary Parker Follett
b. Lillian Gilbreth
c. Walter Dill Scott
d. Hugo Münsterberg
Answer: d. Hugo Münsterberg
Rationale:
Hugo Münsterberg played a central role in early applied psychology, advocating for the
application of psychological principles in business and legal contexts, thereby influencing the
extension of applied psychology into these arenas.
41. Which of the following events did NOT play a significant role in the extension of psychology
to the legal system?
a. the trial of Daniel M’Naughton.
b. the use of psychological science by Louis D. Brandeis to argue for better working conditions
for women.
c. the use of psychological science in the desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education
(1954)
d. Theodore Roosevelt’s recognition of the work of Mary Parker Follett
Answer: d. Theodore Roosevelt’s recognition of the work of Mary Parker Follett
Rationale:
Theodore Roosevelt's recognition of Mary Parker Follett's work did not directly contribute to the
extension of psychology into the legal system, unlike the other events listed, which involved the
application of psychological science in legal contexts.
42. Due to this person’s rigorous experimental study of eyewitness testimony, the field of
psychology and the law grew in size and surged in prominence. This person is
a. Hugo Münsterberg
b. Walter Dill Scott
c. Marion Almira Bills
d. Elizabeth Loftus
Answer: d. Elizabeth Loftus
Rationale:
Elizabeth Loftus conducted groundbreaking research on eyewitness testimony, significantly
advancing the field of psychology and the law by highlighting the fallibility of human memory
and the implications for legal proceedings.
43. The American Psychological Society was largely founded as a result of the
a. tension between professional and scientific psychology.
b. demand for more specialized research in industrial settings.
c. strain among cognitive researchers and humanistic psychologists.
d. need for increased governmental funding for clinical research.
Answer: a. tension between professional and scientific psychology.
Rationale:
The founding of the American Psychological Society was driven by the tension between
professional and scientific psychology, reflecting a desire among scientists for a separate
organization dedicated to advancing psychological research.
44. Which of the following is NOT representative of contemporary psychology?
a. a substantial increase in the number of fields of applied psychology
b. a proliferation of interest in clinical psychology
c. general movement toward a more unified discipline
d. an increase in professionalism and specialization
Answer: c. general movement toward a more unified discipline
Rationale:
While there have been efforts to integrate various subfields of psychology, contemporary
psychology remains diverse, with a range of specialized areas of study. There is no overarching
movement toward a completely unified discipline, as different subfields often have distinct
theoretical frameworks and methodologies.
Test Bank for A History of Psychology: Ideas and Context
Brett D. King, Wayne Viney, William Douglas Woody
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